Current collecting trolley



Dec. 12, 1933.

H. L. NANCARROW ET AL ,939,078

CURRENT COLLECTING TROLLEY Filed Oct. 24, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l D mwszvrozas: L. Muwarmw 13 flZyaZHZYLUZ/ZLJL',

ATTORNE 55.

H. L. NANCARROW El AL 9,078

CURRENT COLLECTING TROLLEY Dec. 12, 1933.

Filed Get. 24, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5= 717x212; L. Nmzam mu 1% Rag m0 if.

WITNESSES TORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 1 2, 1933 UNITED ST T S CURRENT COLLECTING TROLLEY Harry L. Nancarrow, Wynnewood, and Raymond R. Blydenburgh, Jr., Ardmore, Pa.

Application October 24,1932. Serial No. 639,208

2 Claims. (Cl. 191-54) 7 This invention relates to current collecting trolleys, and more particularly to contactshoes for trolleys of the collapsible or pantograph va-' shoes engage the overhead trolley wire in slid-' ingfrictional contact; and it has also been pro- 10 posed to employ cylindrical rollers for collecting current from the trolley wire. While rollers may be suitable for some types-of services, it is recog-. nized that better electrical contact is obtained between sliding surfaces, and on electric locomotives it is particularly desirable that the trolley shoe present a relatively wide area of contact to the overhead wire, in contrast to the line contact of aroller. On the other hand, where flat stationary-contact shoes are employed, the shoes are subjected to severev wear, especially at their central regions, and it is necessary to replace them frequently. Thisentails considerable expense.

.The object of the present invention, generally stated, is to provide, in the wear portion of a current collecting trolley, a shoe whichis fixed in its position, and which is designed to afiord good electrical'contact with the overhead wire, and which also has capacity for adjustment circumferentially to different positions inorder that new surfaces may be presented to the trolley wire when old surfaces have become worn.

I A further object of the invention is to provide, in, the wear portion of a trolley of this character, a shoe which has an adjustable central section, at the region where the greatest wear ocours, and which has at the ends of the central section aligned wearing plates serving as extensions thereof, such wearing plates being removably fitted so that they may be readily replaced.

40 Other specific objects and advantages characterizing our invention will become more fully apparent from the description hereinafter set forth of certain embodiments or examples of the invention, having reference, to the accom panying drawings. Of the drawings: 1.

Fig. I represents a side elevation of a pantograph embodying my invention. 7 Fig. II represents an enlarged view of the. current collecting shoe of the same. J

Fig. 111 represents a transverse cross section of the shoe, taken as indicated by the lines III-'- IIIoIFigaIIandIV. 1:

Fig. IV represents a longitudinal cross section of a portion of the shoe, taken as indicated by the a lines Iva-1V0! Fig. III.

Fig. V represents a perspective view of a trun-.

nion by which the central section of the shoe is joined to an end section.

Fig. VI represents a transverse cross section of the shoe, taken as indicated by the lines VIVI of Figs. II and VII.

Fig. VIIrepresents a longitudinal cross section of a portion of the shoe, taken as indicated by the lines VII-VII of Fig. VI.

Fig. VIII represents a. perspective view of a yoke by which the shoe is joined to the pantograph. 1 N

Fig. IX represents a perspectiveview of one of the wearing plates of the shoe. 7

Fig. X represents a portion of a modified form of shoe wherein the centralcontact section is of square cross section with certain parts broken away to reveal the manner in which the center section'is joined to an end section of the shoe.

.Figs. XI and XII represent cross sections of the same, taken asindicated by the lines XI- and XII-XII, respectively, of Fig. X.

Fig. IGII represents a portion of another modified form of shoe wherein the central contact sec- 7 tion is of hexagonal cross section with certain parts broken away to reveal the manner in which the center section is joined to an end section of the shoe. 7 7

Figs. XIV and'XV represent cross sections of the same, taken as indicated by the lines XIV XIV and XVXV,- respectively, of Fig. XIII.

- .Fig. XVI represents a perspective view of a portion of the center contact section'of square formation in association with the trunnion which is used with that type of shoe; and, V

Fig. XVII represents a perspective view of a portion of the center contact section of hexagonal formation in association with the trunnion which is used with that type of shoe.

In the drawings, our invention is illustrated as applied to a common type of pantograph used on cars of multiple-unit electric trains and on elec-. tric locomotives. As shown in Fig. I, the pantograph includes a. collapsible framework of which the upper bars are designated at 1 and the lower bars are designated at 2, these bars being pivotally connected'by joints-3; Such pantograph frameworks are customarily raised by springs and loweredlby air pressure, and their operation is well understood by those familiarwith the art.

The current collecting shoe is comprehensive- 1y designatedat 4. It comprises generally a reto IX, inclusive, the central section 5 is in the form of a hollow cylinder. Fixed in the hollow ends of the central section 5, there are aluminum trunnions "I which are preferably secured in place by shrinking and become in effect a part of the central section. Each trunnion 7 has a projection 8 of reduced diameter which is adapted to fit within the hollow ends of the end sections 6 of the shoe. The projecting portions 8 of the trunnions 7 are annularly recessed at. 9 as indicated in Figs.-III, IV and V.

Each end section 6 is preferably made of" aluminum or other light-material, andis provided at its outer end with a downwardly exwearing section 11 is provided with two pairs of depending ears 12 and 13. Each pair of ears 12 envelopes the corresponding end sections 6 at the region near the central section 5. The

ears 12 are perforated-at 14 to accommodate bolts 15. When the end sections 6 are fitted to the central section 5, the bolts 15 passing through the ears 12 enter the annular recesses 9 of the trunnions 7. The bolts '15. also engage a recess 16 on'the under surface of the end sections 6, and hence, in an obvious manner on tightening'the nuts ofthe bolts 15 the wearing plates 11 become clamped to the end sections 6, and the end sections 6 become clamped to the central section 5. The other pair of ears 13 serves as an additional clamping device by which the-wearing plates 11 are secured to the end sections 6. As indicated in Fig. VI, the ears 13 are interiorly configured to define a socket 17 which ac-' commodates the body of a yoke 18. Each yoke 18 has an upper arcuate surface 19 which fits snugly against the under surface of the end section 6. When the yoke 18 is mounted within the ears 13, it is'fixed in its position by means of dowels 20 which enter opposite recesses in the yoke 18 and in the end section 6. Accordingly, in an obvious manner, tightening of the bolts 15 clamps the wearing plates 11 to theirend sections 6 and prevents relative rotation between these parts. Each yoke l8 includes depending arms 21, shown clearly in Fig. VIII, which have bolt-holes 22 and which serve as a means for attaching the shoe 4 to the framework of the pantograph. To the bolts 15 of the ears 13-there is also attached, as shown in Fig. II, a flexible conductor 23 through which current from" the shoe 4 passes to the pantograph framework.

It will be observedthat the wearing plates 11 correspond in cross sectionalconfiguration to a portion of the central cylindrical section 5, and that the wearing plates are in registry with the top surface of the central section 5. Under ordinary conditions of straight track, contact with the trolley wire 24 occurs only at the central section 5 upon which the major part of the wear occurs. However, when the vehicle is rounding sharp curves, contact with the trolley wire 24. will occur at either wearing plate 11. Inasmuch as the exterior configuration of the wearing plates corresponds to that-of the central cylindrical section 5, and these parts'are disposed in alignment and in abutting relation, the trolley wire 24 can pass freely from onesection of the shoe to another, and noobstructionis offered to switches or other overhead structure.

Moreover, at the outer extremities of the wearing plates 11, as shown clearly in Figs. II and IX, these plates are gradually reduced in thickness, affording smooth tapered surfaces 29 leading to the horns 10 over which a trolley wire may pass freely.

With the use of a shoe constructed as shown in Figs, LIX, contact with the trolley wire occurs along a straight line representing points of tangency between the wire and shoe and extending substantially throughout the horizontal portion. of the shoe. As wear occurs and the central'section 5 begins to acquire a fiat spot, th'ecentral section is readjusted in its position by loosening the bolts 15, and turning the central section 5 through a small angle. This ad justment causes a new surface to be presented to the overhead wire. By periodically readjusting the position of the central section 5, this part may be caused to perform efficient service over a period representing many times the life of the ordinary fiat shoe. I

The wearing plates '11 which are subject to less wear than the central section 5 will also last for a long'period of time, and when replacement-is necessary the substitution of new wearing plates can be readily effectedin an obvious manner. It' will be observed that the shoe 4 is rendered relatively light through the use of hollow aluminum end sections 6 and a hollow central section 5, and that the parts are all of simple and inexpensive construction.

In Figs. X, XI, XII and XVI, there are illustrated parts'of a modified form of shoe 4a of our invention, in which the central section 5a is square, rather than cylindrical, cross section, and in which the wearing plates 11a correspond in cross section to a segment of the central section 5a. For this type of shoe the'trunnion 7a is provided at one end with an annular portion Ba and at the other end with four radial projections 25 terminating in flat surfaces 26. The surfaces 26 are adapted to fit snugly against the interior surfaces of the hollow central section 5a as will be clearly apparent from inspection ofFig. XVI. Adjustment of the central section 5a, as wear takes place, is accomplished by separating the parts, turning the central section 5a through an angle of 90 and then clamping it in place. a In Figs. XIII, XIV, XV and XVII, there are illustrated parts-of another modifiedform of the shoe 4b in which the central contact section 5b is of hexagonalcross section, and the wearing plates 11?) are correspondingly shaped. For this type of shoe the trunnion 7b is provided at one end with an annular portion 8b and at the other end 'with three radial projections 27 terminating in flat surfaces 28; The-flat surfaces 28 are adapted to fit snugly against the interior surfaces of' the hollowcentral section 51) as will be clearly apparent from inspection of Fig. XVII. Adjustment of the central section 55, as weartakes place, is accomplished by separating the parts, turning the central section 5b throughan angle of and then clamping it in place. 7 7

The modified forms of shoes shown in Figs. X-XVII, are particularly suitable for current collecting trolleys of locomotives where it is desirable to have a relatively large flat area of adjustment or replacement of the parts, after Wear has occurred, is accomplished in the same manner. To readjust the position of the central contact section of the shoe, it is merely necessary to loosen the nuts of the bolts 15, which permits the central contact section to be revolved, and then to turn the same to a new position. To replace an old central contact section with a new one, the nuts of the bolts are loosened, and the end sections 6 are then spread apart sufliciently to allow one of the trunnions to be released from its socket. Thereafter it is an easy matter to remove this section and to substitute a new one.

While we have described certain particular examples or embodiments of our invention, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form of the apparatus herein illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described our invention, -we

claim:

1. A sliding current collector for electrically propelled vehicles having a wear portion comprising tubular end sections with wearing plates removably attached thereto as top surface pieces, said wearing plates having depending ears enveloping the end sections, a central section having trunnions fitting into said end sections, said central section having capacity for circumferential adjustment with relation to said end sections but without disturbing the top surface alignment of said central section with said end ing trunnions fitting into said end sections, said central section having capacity for circumferential adjustment with relation to said end sections but without disturbing the top surface alignment of said central section and said end sections,'and clamping means on the ears of said wearing plates for securing said centralsection in its circumferentially adjusted position and for fastening said wearing plates to the tubular portions of said end sections.

HARRY L. NANCARROW. RAYMOND R. BLYDENBURGH, JR. 

